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Book #1 Hits of the 60's Tickets
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by Andrew Scott
Encompassing scenes as varied as letter-jacketed teens, free-spirited hippies and even a tribute to Vietnam War veterans, J.F.K and Martin Luther King Jr., #1 Hits of the Sixties showcases a number of different views from the 60's as it strolls through the music that defined an era.
The show started out with a quick overview of the entire sixties as the cast of eight (four guys, four gals) performed a medley of #1 hits from 1960 thru 1969. Although I am a bit too young to remember the bulk of the songs performed, it was extremely interesting to hear the eruption of cheers that came from the audience as the cast bridged one song into the next.
After the quick introduction into the show, the cast added audience participation to the mix as the entire crowd was quizzed on everything 60's. Sports, politics and general pop trivia were all covered, with the crowd enthusiastically shouting out the answers in unison.
The audience participation continued as the cast focused on the dance styles of the 60's, running through a number of songs that focused on such crazy moves as the twist, jerk, monkey, mashed potato, swim and more. During this segment nearly every single person got out of their seats and started dancing along. Branson is heavily noted for its shows adding a healthy dose of audience participation into their routines, but I was definitely surprised to see how enthusiastic the entire crowd was to play along with the cast every step of the way.
After all the dancing, the show finally settled down with a skit showcasing the nostalgia of the drive-in movie theater. Along with a number of songs, the skit features a loose storyline that featured more than a few twists and a number of caricatures of 60's society. The rebel, all-star athlete, hippie, nerd and prep were all present, giving a nostalgic, if somewhat stereotypical, view of the social structure of the 60's.
The second half of the show continued as strong as the first with tributes being paid to Motown, Dick Clark's American Bandstand, television theme songs and a tribute veterans, J.F.K and Martin Luther King Jr.
The only real downside to the second half of the show, or the entire show for that matter, came in the presentation of Motown. This distinct era of music completely changed the landscape of popular culture with an immense amount of soul being showcased to an entire segment of America that had, until then, preferred a more rigid style of vocals. Sadly, the feeling and depth of nearly every soul song covered was lost to the over-polished vocals that the cast used in performing the hits of Motown.
Again though, this slump in accurately portraying the music of the 60's was only temporary, and shouldn't detract from enjoying the show if you have a thorough appreciation for all that is the 60's. In the end, #1 Hits of the Sixties is a great trip down memory lane for those that were rocking in the 60's. And for those born just a little too late, the show can still be enjoyed as a look into America's pop culture past.
